BiPolar II with refractory depression... my dr. first took me off all my meds?

to "clean me out" and start over as he put it. For a very long time he has been advocating ECT treatment, which because of the type of work I do, I am very disinclined to take part in. I cannot take the risk of memory loss, recent or distant. Anyway, my most recent experience was for him to wean me off of Seroquel and add Celexa. That was not the most pleasant two weeks of my life. At the next appt he put me on 300 mg Wellbutrin (I have taken this med before to no avail... refractory depression does not respond to anti-depressants)... between the two appts I felt like I was in a constant hypomania state. He decided to add Abilify (2 mg)... (thank goodness I have good insurance). I asked if it would help with the agitation, anxiety, mood swings, etc. that I have been experiencing. "It might". NOTE that I have been on both these meds before and some that I cannot even recall. He said that being off of the Seroquel I seemed more "engaged" and not "flat" as I have been before. I prefer being flat to what I am experiencing now. He originally wanted to put me on Depakote (no thank you) and Geodon (again, no thank you).I suppose my question is this... has anyone else been on Wellbutrin and Abilify for bi-polar/refractory depression and experienced any success??? This ongoing nightmare has affected my job, caused me to use FMLA time, my employers just don't "get it" when it comes to being in this kind of situation and state of mind.

Prior to this beginning of this last/current episode, I started suffering extreme bouts of insomnia, during which I would be lucky to get one hour of sleep a night.

Any suggestions and/or shared experiences would be deeply appreciated. I just don't know which way to turn from here.

Responses (4)

I can share that I take Abilify 15mg, Wellbutrin XL 300mg, and Pristiq 20mg with excellent results. I have suffered from depression for many years and been on many different antidepressants. I did not want to try ECT. I have found the combo of meds that I am on now to be an excellent regimen. The Abilify controls the hypomania while the two antidepressants adjust all three neurotransmitters. Therefore all my bases are covered.

Hi Laurie, Thanks for responding. Apparently I was on Abilify before this go-around (I have not kept good records of previous meds and simply can't remember things like I used to... am going to get a list from dr of what/when/how much and my reaction to the meds I've been on). I was very unsettled when a friend mentioned to me a while back that I'd been on Abilify and I had no memory of having ever taken it.

Anyway, as stated, Dr has me on 2 mg and when he moved me up to 5 mg, I started experiencing difficulty with concentration, etc. Have you experienced any such difficulty and if so, did it work itself out? While I am doing better, I am not where I should be. (could be... or WANT to be).

Like most people on this forum, I am unwilling to just place myself in the hands of the Dr and believe that he knows what is best for me. I've seen that occur with my mother and she was misdiagnosed as schizophrenic for about 25 years... on all the wrong meds during that time... and it turned out that she is simply bipolar. It is amazing and at the same time, frighening what can occur if you are not an informed consumer or have someone looking out for you as your advocate.

I have seen Pristiq commercials and am going to research that further as I have a Dr appt next week. The most recent meds that he has suggested have too many REALLY scarey side effects that I am unwilling to take the risk. Just as I will not risk the ECT.

You are certainly welcome will it ever stop?. I don't recall having problems with the Abilify when I started it and I am on 15mgs. Sometimes it does take a little while to get past the side effects before a med really has a chance to work. At least this seems to be the case with medicines of this kind.

I agree with you 100%. Being ones own advocate or having an advocate to help ensure proper care is paramount. I have been on psychiatric meds of many kinds for many years and while I am doing great now, it hasn't always been that way. I have had the wrong diagnosis too. I try to not get hung up on what my diagnosis is and concentrate on treating the symptoms. Seems to be working for me.

Good luck with the search for the right meds. Keep up the progress, it is possible to find the right meds.

Wow, hope your hanging in there. Welbutrin caused my son to have mania. He used to take welbutrin & Celexa but had stopped taking his meds last summer & all hell broke loose but in the course of trying various different meds the wellbutrin caused hypomania & he had to get off it. He has Shizoaffective disorder. Your insomnia is probably from your hypomania that is a classic sign, one of the first things to indicate a problem is sleep disturbances & especially little or no sleep. Maybe you need a new Dr or a second opinion. Like I said hang in there & I'm praying for you

Hi there "will it ever stop" In answer to your avatar. Yes it does. It meaning depression. It will become manageable. If you click on my avatar, you will get a mini photo so to speak, a bio/history of myself. I ended up with ect. Its not for everyone. By no means. Its extemely well supervised in regards to while its being administered. Mine were all performed through the operating rooms. There also is a risk. Waivers are signed. That the physician, also the hospital/institution and then the anesthesiologist, are not liable for any damage, to your mental and physical well being. My opinion, there are many medications, along with therapies, that are avaliable to you. I would, ask your dr. to prescribe another drug family. I could suggest this one or that one but in the end, its all a matter of trial and error. I know that often, it might take awhile, to find the right medication(s) that will work, be right for you. I can add this, things will improve, it just take might take a bit longer, than say someone else. best to you.

Will it ever stop? I hear you and ask myself this question all the time. For me, Wellbutrin made me rapid cycle and Abilify made me gain a lot of weight plus my cholesteral went up to 200 in one month. Now I'm on lithium, Seroquel, Effexor and I'm at least able to get out of bed.

Hang in there... I'd say you do great if you have periods where you can work. If I had to work, I'd be homeless. I haven't felt close to "normal" in 3 years.